Fort McCoy, others brace for federal spending cuts

Published On: Feb 26 2013 03:28:29 PM CST

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -

Gov. Scott Walker continues to take a wait and see approach as to what looming federal spending cuts will mean for Wisconsin, while others prepare to scale back budgets, lay off workers and take other steps to deal with a loss of millions of dollars in funding.

The $85 billion in automatic cuts, known as a sequester, are scheduled to begin nationwide Friday.

At Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin, plans are in place for 1,500 civilian employees to take one furlough day a week, amounting to a 20 percent cut in pay.

The White House has identified millions of dollars in potential cuts affecting Wisconsin schools and environmental programs.

Walker has said those projections are scare tactics and is instead calling President Obama's administration to come up with alternatives.

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